Hannah Kagawa

New Zealand Percussionist, Composer, Educator and Craftsman

See Biography

NEW VIDEO

Iannis Xenakis - Psappha (1975)

for solo multi-percussion

Hannah Kagawa UC Third Year Percussion Recital

Date: 10th June 2026

Venue: Recital Room, The Arts Centre

More videos

16 Aug

New Zealand Day of Percussion 2026
Date: Sunday 16 August 2026, All dayVenue: The Piano, Christchurch
Featuring the UC Percussion Ensemble
Join us for a full day celebrating percussion in all its forms at The Piano, Christchurch on Sunday 16 August 2026.
Featuring internationally acclaimed artists Fabian Ziegler (Switzerland) and Katarzyna Myćka (Poland), alongside leading performers from across Aotearoa including members of the NZSO, Auckland Philharmonia, Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, and the Pandemonium Ensemble. The day will include performances, workshops, artist talks, product exhibits, and interactive sessions spanning concert percussion and drumset — designed for students, educators, professionals, and anyone with an interest in music.
Following the success of our 2023 event (150+ participants from across NZ), the 2026 Day of Percussion promises an even bigger and more vibrant gathering of the national percussion community. Come connect, learn, and be inspired by world-class artists and New Zealand’s vibrant percussion scene!

15 Aug

Tickets here!

UC School of Music presents: Steve Reich's Music for 18 Musicians (NZ Premiere)
Featuring the University of Canterbury Percussion Ensemble
Date: Saturday 15 August 2026, 7:30pmVenue: The Piano, Christchurch
Programme

Steve Reich - Music for 18 Musicians

NEW WORK

Cloud Piercer (2025)

solo for 5 octave marimba, 6:30mins

Commissioned and premiered by Auckland Philharmonia's principal timpanist Steven Logan

I was fortunate enough to spend my childhood in a national park beneath the magnificent Aoraki/Mount Cook, the tallest mountain in New Zealand. “Aoraki”, meaning “Cloud Piercer” in Māori (New Zealand’s indigenous language), is named because the mountain is often seen “piercing” the wispy clouds around her luminescent white peak. As my first solo marimba work, I decided to pay tribute to this mountain by capturing her majestic beauty and the nostalgia associated with my childhood. By playing this piece, I hope you get a sense of the serene nature that New Zealand has to offer.

- Hannah Kagawa, June 2025